Prayers for the sick and struggling

A bouquet I took
to ICPM on Sunday

Yesterday morning, Pastor Quinn went to the Royal Alex to visit one of our "flock," who was sent from the Stanley Milner Library to Emergency because of double pneumonia -- but J had checked himself out (well, walked out) before Quinn got there. 

This morning, J's mom arrived at Tuesday Table Time and told us she didn't know where J is, so we went looking for him after our table cleared off of the toiletries and snacks we had to share. We checked the library and walked all the way around Hope Mission, hoping to find J. No luck. He could be anywhere, and with this kind of illness plus an addiction to meth, all we can do is pray that someone who meets him can help him to get the care he needs.

Walking around the Hope this morning, though I've done it more than a few times, left me shocked yet again at the sheer numbers of homeless people milling around or sleeping on the sidewalks. It's not something that I spend a lot of time thinking about because it leaves me feeling sad that things are the way they are, guilty that my life is so much better than theirs, and hopeless that things are going to change. 

But in my morning meditation time today, I ran across this gem by Brother Lawrence, a fairly simple monk who tried to see God in all things/people:

Everything is possible for those who believe, even more for those who hope, still more for those who love, and most of all for those practice and persevere in these three powerful paths.

So we at Inner City Pastoral Ministry (soon to have a new name -- watch this space!) continue in these three paths to the best of our ability. And we pray for J to recover from his illness and addiction, and do what we can for all those we meet on the streets. 

Everything is possible, says Brother Lawrence. Especially for those who love God. 

On the Feast of the Holy Innocents

Warning: this is not a happy Christmas moodling.

Remember the Bible story (a dream version of which I shared yesterday) about King Herod sending soldiers to Bethlehem to kill all the babies two years of age and under so that the promised Messiah could not unseat him as king? Today is the day that story is remembered.

For myself, I am remembering the names of some of the Palestinian children that I added to a long banner of names one afternoon in November. In particular, I am thinking of Lotus, who was only 10, and Rita and Bilal, her little sisters, who were 9 and 7, and their family, cousins with similar surnames, and friends. Wise men did not save them.

So today I am sharing a very powerful Christmas Eve reflection that was offered by a Palestinian Lutheran pastor in Bethlehem instead of the usual Christmas celebrations. An Anglican pastor friend of mine tossed out her Christmas Eve sermon and read his words instead, and truthfully, all our church leaders should be doing the same.

The world's leadership is taking the lazy way out in supporting or ignoring this ongoing war that has led to over 20,000 civilian casualties to date. If we really want to celebrate the season of Christmas, we can do it best by signing petitions, writing our MPs, standing in solidarity at rallies against genocide, demanding complete ceasefire before any more Holy Innocents are lost, and seeking out those among us who are in need to offer them hope through our support... 

I pray that it can be so.